question(s) re: electric walk-behind mowers

[snowman]

I was reading the thread on cheap lawn tractors and didn't want to disrupt things with this marginally related but somewhat different issue.

The thread indicated that at least some lawn tractor manufacturers make the same model for two different kinds of sellers, building it with cheaper parts for sale at the large box stores. This would point to a lesser quality machine, and I'm wondering if they do the same with electric walk-behind mowers.

I have a friend I'm helping with a mower purchase. She just bought a house on a very small lot here in town and of course will be responsible for mowing it. She has never owned or operated a mower or other power equipment. We both thought that, given her inexperience and the tiny yard, that this would be a good option to consider. Of course we've been researching various brands online and have spoken with a few dealers.

If you have recommendations or brands to avoid, or can evaluate the various features, we would be grateful for your contribution(But don't forget the main question, 2 paragraphs above -if you know the answer).

This lady is very petite and has thought that a push mower might be a little more of a physical challenge then she wants. I can't say, since it has been many years since I operated one. So we've been researching self-propelled ones also. She's also only about 5'4" tall and wonders if these machines have adjustable-length handles. I've seen children operating them before when the handle was too high for them; she wants to avoid a similar situation.

Well, I'll leave it at that. Thanks in advance for your efforts to assist.

Regards,
Andy

 

[bigwheelzip]

Mom cut her own grass till she was 87, and for as long as I can remember, used a very cheap corded electric push mower (maybe Black & Decker) for her tiny yard in Brooklyn.

My son still uses it at his home occasionally. It is super light without the weight of batteries to push around, but requires a few extra minutes to wind and unwind the cord.

Mom's little backyard is pictured, and her front yard is half the size.

 

[snowman]

bigwheelzip,

I didn't think a smaller yard than what my friend has existed, and you have proven me wrong!

Thanks,
Andy

 

[CB3]

My gas mower failed and was going to cost about 100 bucks to fix. I decided to go the battery electric power mower route. I had had a corded electric mower before and hated dragging that cord around.

The first one I bought was a Green Works 40V two years ago. It had nowhere near the power especially to vacuum up debris as my gas mower. I bought a more expensive one. No better. I understand there are more powerful electric ones now, but I returned both those and paid 100 bucks to get my gas one going and I’ve been very happy. I don’t think electric battery mowers have hit their stride to compete directly with a good gas mower.

The electric battery mowers are typically lighter and can be easier to push. They are quieter and with light use don’t have gas and engine maintenance issues. Some are easier to store folded up. I think for a small lawn they would be just right. I would still stay away from dragging a cord around. It’s just very inconvenient.

 

[snubbyfan]

Our house has just enough yard to say we have a yard and when we first moved here, we got ourselves an electric mower. After a while I got used to moving the cord around and it did a pretty good job.
That is until the next year after it had been put away for the winter.
I plugged it in, hit the switch and nothing. After taking it apart I found that the brushes had disintegrated. So we got another brand and it worked well for a year and stored it more carefully over the winter.
Still, when I went to use it the next year, same thing. The brushes were gone and we had to pay somebody to come and cut our grass.
One fine day, while I was at work, my wife did the shopping and when I came home. there was a nice new gas mower and it's lasted year after year. It's kinda small but it does the job.

 

[bigwheelzip]

bigwheelzip,

I didn't think a smaller yard than what my friend has existed, and you have proven me wrong!

Thanks,
Andy

I had to laugh at that. Heck, we even had a pool in summer on the driveway.

We felt so privileged growing up with that private postage stamp of grass and driveway of our own to play in. When we sold it a couple of years ago, prospective buyer young parents stood on the back porch and spoke longingly of their desire to provide that yard for their kids.

 

[Rustyt1953]

Years ago, my nearsighted aunt bought a small corded mower for her tiny patch of grass after she added a patio. You guessed it....first time out she ran over the cord.

 

[arjay]

I’ve been using a cobalt (Lowe’s house brand) twin blade mower on my smallish lawn for 5-6 yrs now. It’s easy to push,weighs far less than a gas mower does and the batteries seem to be holding up ok.
The lack of noise,no stink and the light weight are a real plus.

 

[snowman]

My friend & I just assumed that these mowers would be battery-operated; I never knew there was such a thing as a cord-operated mower -that sounds like a nightmare to me.

Andy

 

[TX-Dennis]

Yeah, the corded mowers are a pain. A friend had one, and it was a nightmare trying to mow while dragging the cord around and trying not to run over the cord.

I bought an Ego self propelled 56 v. mower three years ago. It's been terrific so far. It has more power than my previous gas mower did, and is lightweight and easy to maneuver. The handle is adjustable for height, but not really for length. That said, there are only two height adjustments. The high position is a bit uncomfortable for me, although it's usable. The lower position in the one I use. I'm right at 6 feet tall, so tell your friend to try one on for size before buying.

The Ego has a separate electric motor for the self propelled function. I don't always engage the self drive since the mower is so light in weight. I liked it so much that I have since bought other Ego yard tools that can share the same batteries. They are among the more expensive brands, but after doing my research before buying I felt like the Ego was the best in class. There are now others that may be its equal, but nothing that is obviously superior.

Did I mention it is quiet? No hearing protection needed. No messing with gas cans. No oil changes. No spark plugs to change. No carburetors to rebuild. No air filters to replace. Basically no maintenance at all. I just put the battery on the charger when I'm done and take it off the next time I use it.

 

[Alpo]

I have a snow Joe. With a cord. There's a learning curve. Back when I had a gas mower I would just circle the yard, making a smaller and smaller circle as I went. Can't do that with the cord. With the gas mower I would just swerve around a tree and keep going. Can't do that with a cord.


You have to make sure that your cord is big enough that is enough electricity makes it to the mower. I have a 100 ft 14 gauge cord, and an additional 50 foot 14 gauge cord. And before I plugged that 150 ft of wire into my lawn mower, I put a multimeter on the end of it it made sure that I still had at least 110 volts.



I'm on my fifth year with this mower. As someone else said - don't have to buy gas or oil or spark plugs. Don't have to take it in for a tune-up. All I do is plug it in, and hold the button in while I pull the handle back, and it's running.



I'm happy with it.

 

[16thVACav]

Top tested battery powered mowers for small yards, from Consumer Reports:

1. Ryobi RY401200

2. DR Power Equip 75021XENO

3. Ego LM2101

4. DeWalt DCMWP233U2

5. Hart HLPM011

 

[snowman]

Top tested battery powered mowers for small yards, from Consumer Reports:

1. Ryobi RY401200

2. DR Power Equip 75021XENO

3. Ego LM2101

4. DeWalt DCMWP233U2

5. Hart HLPM011

That's very helpful, sir; thank you much.
Andy

 

[jdh]

I bought the Kobalt 80V from Lowe’s because I already had other tools that took the same battery. It has proven to have enough power and long enough run time to get the job done.

 

[Old&Retired]

Wife just upgraded from a 16" Ryobi push mower to the Ryobi 20" self propelled. 40V 20" BRUSHLESS Self-Propelled Mower with 6.0AH Battery & Charger
Model: #RY401120-Y
Plenty of power and has adjustable speed control as well as adjustable handle.
She loves it and can do the fairly steep hill on the side of the yard with ease.

 

[huthike]

I have an average sized yard with fairly thick grass. After 30 years with a Honda gas mower, the handle broke! First year with an Ego - I like it so far, but time will tell.

 

[rwsmith]

I just bought a Kobalt.......

......earlier this year and we love it. Your friend may like the 18" model as it's a little smaller than ours.

 

[SMSgt]

Neighbor has a battery-powered mower, can't tell you the make. She keeps her grass very deep and thick, and the mower struggles a bit to keep up. My issue is the battery. I've had zero luck with battery-powered tools, can never find a replacement battery for my "obsolete and no longer produced" OEM one.

 

[Golphin]

I bought the Kobalt 80V from Lowe’s because I already had other tools that took the same battery. It has proven to have enough power and long enough run time to get the job done.

I would not be able to get much of my place mowed with a electric mower but I do use a Kabolt 80V trimmer and it does a good job.. Most times it last through the job. Once in a while I need to charge it to finish but I have a lot to do. I also use it with a pole saw attachment and it works well for that also.

 

[len917]

Have an EGO too 56v self propelled 21" FANTASTIC worth every penny.
$500--Lowes